Self-developing camera



1966 v. K. ELORANTA SELF-DEVELOPING CAMERA 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 5, 1964 FIG.

Dec. 6, 1966 v. K. ELORANTA 3,239,560

SELF-DEVELOPING CAMERA Filed NOV. 5, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

INVENTOR.

BY W t 44m ATTORNEYS 6, 1966 v. K. ELORANTA SELF-DEVELOPING CAMERA Filed Nov. 5, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 R 2 mi MZ Q mm mm O m3 Dec. 6, 1966 v. K. ELORANTA 3,289,560

SELF-DEVELOPING CAMERA Filed Nov. 5, 1964 e Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

BYMM

ATTORNEYS Dec. 6, 1966 v. K. ELORANTA 3,289,560

SELF-DEVELOPING CAMERA Filed Nov. 5, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 I76 I74 /I FIG? INVENTOR.

BY W M 7% M.- M f. M

ATTORNEYS United States Fatent C ware Filed Nov. 5, 1964, Ser. No. 409,248 12 Claims. (CI. 95-13) This invention relates to cameras for exposing successive areas of a photosensitive sheet and processing the exposed areas by superposing them with a second sheet and distributing a liquid processing composition between the sheets to form a sandwich; and more particularly, to novel and improved cameras in which the sandwich comprising the superposed sheets and liquid is withdrawn directly from the camera as it is formed.

In the copending US. patent application of Vaito K. Eloranta, Serial No. 358,269, filed April 8, 1964, now abandoned, there is shown and described a camera of the self-developing type including a two section housing for holding and enclosing a roll film assembly comprising an elongated photosensitive image-recording sheet coupled at its leading end with a second or image-receiving sheet and a plurality of rupturable containers of processing liquid mounted on the second sheet; means for locating for exposure and exposing successive areas of the photosensitive sheet; a pair of juxtaposed pressure-applying members for superposing each exposed area of the image-recording sheet with an area of the second sheet and distributing the processing liquid from one of the containers between the areas of the sheets to form a sandwich; an opening adjacent the pressure-applying members through which the sandwich is withdrawn directly from between the pressureapplying members; means for severing successive portions of the sandwich from other portions of the sheets remaining within the camera; and means for controlling the movement of the sheets through the camera.

An object of the invention is to provide a camera of the type described including novel and improved means for preventing admission of light into the camera through the sheet withdrawal opening, severing successive portions of the sheets withdrawn from the camera through the opening and controlling movement of the sheets through and from the camera.

Other objects of the invention are: to provide a camera as described in which the sheet-severing means cooperate with sheet-engagement means for controlling movement of the sheets through the camera and are so constructed and arranged as to be operated manually as a necessary part of the process of manual withdrawal of the sheets; to

provide a camera as described including novel means for coupling the sheet-severing means and the sheet-engagement means to control movement of the sheets through the camera; and to provide a camera as described characterized by a relatively simple and inexpensive construction which is convenient and easy to use and operates dependably to produce good results.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the apparatus possessing the construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which are exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims:

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a rear perspective view of a camera embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the camera of FIG- 3,289,560 Patented Dec. 6, 1966 URE 1, the section being taken substantially along the line 22 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of the camera, the section being taken substantially along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating the operation of the camera;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing components of the camera; and

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views, similar to FIG. 4, illustrating other embodiments of the camera and the operation thereof.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 through 3 of the drawings wherein there is shown a camera 10 of the type described in the aforementioned application Serial No. 358,269, embodying the present invention. Camera 10 comprises a housing including a forward section 12 and a rear section 14 pivotally connected to one another for movement between the closed or operative position, shown in FIGURE 1, and in open position to permit loading of a film assemblage into the housing. Forward housing section 12 includes a main body portion comprising an upper wall 16, an end wall 18, a relatively short rear wall.

20, and a lower wall, a forward wall and a wall at its opposite end, which do not show in the drawings. Extending from the main portion of the forward housing section is an extension section 22 on which is mounted a conventional lens and shutter assembly 24. A view finder 26 is mounted on upper wall 16.

Rear housing section 14 includes a rear wall having a first panel 28 and a rearwardly displaced second panel 30, an upper wall 32, and a lower and end walls which do not appear in the drawings. The upper and lower walls of the rear housing section overlap, respectively, portions of the upper and lower walls of the forward housing section, and the rear housing section is mounted on the forward housing section for pivotal movement about studs 34 extending from the upper and lower walls of the forward housing section and engaged in openings in the upper and lower walls of the rear housing section. The forward and rear sections of the camera housing are designed to be fabricated by mass production methods from inexpensive materials, for example, molded organic plastics.

The camera housing includes means for holding a supply of an elonga ed photosensitive image-recording sheet 36, supporting successive areas of the image-recording sheet in position for exposure, holding a coil of a second or image-receiving sheet 38 and guiding exposed areas of the image-recording sheet into superposition with areas of the image-receiving sheet.

The mechanism of the camera includes a unitary device for superposing areas of the two sheets and distributing a processing liquid between the superposed area to form a sandwich; arresting movement of the sheets through the camera; and retaining the forward and rear housing sections in closed or operative position, as shown in FIGURE 1. This unitary device is shown in detail in FIG. 5, and comprises a first frame 40 mounted on the inside of second panel 30 of the rear wall of the rear housing section and a second frame 42 mounted within the forward housing section adjacent end wall 18 thereof. The first and second frames are preferably formed of sheet metal and function to support the processing, sheet arresting and retaining (latch) means of the camera. These last-mentioned means include components located on opposite sides of the sheets and acting in combination and in opposition to one another upon the sheets located between them and the housing sections to which they are secured. To facilitate loading and threading of the sheets intoithe apparatus, components of the processing and. arresting mechanisms which act upon the sheets in opposition to stantially greater than an inexpensive molded plastic housing is able to withstand. It is for these reasons that the processing, arresting and latch means are combined in a unitary device including two sections mounted on frames 40 and 42 which are separable by pivoting housing sections 12 and 14 with respect to one another, and which may be joined to one another to operatively locate the various components with the requisite accuracy and in a unitary device which prevents undue stresses from being applied to the camera housing.

Frame 40 includes a base 44, upstanding side members 46 and an upstanding transverse member 48 extending between and connecting side members 46; and is mounted with base 44 against the rear wall of the rear housing section with said members 46 locatedadjacent the upper and lower walls of the rear housing sections. The processing mechanism of the camera, that is, the means for superposing the sheets and distributing the processing liquid therebetween, comprises a pair of juxtaposed pressure-applying rolls 50 and 52 mounted, respectively, on first and second frames 40 and 42 and located in juxtaposition, as shown in FIG. 2, when the housing sections are in closed position. The means for mounting roll 50 on first frame 40 and biasing the roll toward roll 52 include a carrier 54, in turn mounted on frame 40, and ineluding an elongated base 56 with upstanding end members 58 at its ends, a transverse member 60 upstanding from the one longitudinal edge of base 56 and brackets 62 extending from the ends of transverse member 60 in opposite directions from end members 58 and in planes substantially parallel therewith. Second frame member 42 is generally U-shaped and includes a transverse member 64 located adjacent end wall 18 of the forward housing section and a pair of side members 66 located adjacent the upper and lower walls of the forward housing section. Roll 52 includes a generally cylindrical medial portion 68 and shafts 70 extending form its ends journaled in holes 71 in side members 66.

Roll 50 includes a generally cylindrical medial portion 72 cooperating with medial portion 68 of roll 52 for engaging and applying compressive pressure to the medial portions of the sheets and shafts 74 at its ends on which the roll is mounted for rotation on carrier 54 and frame 40. Shafts 74 are journaled in slots 76 in brackets 62, the slots being open at their forward ends to permit assembly of the mechanism; and in L-shaped slots 78 in side members 46 of frame 40. L-shaped slots 78 are open at their forward ends and extend rearwardly and then at right angles toward the end of the camera housing and roll 52, thereby providing for limited movement of roll 50 toward and away from roll 52 with the axes of the rolls lying in substantially the same plane. Carrier 54 is engaged between side members 46 of frame 40 for sliding movement together with roll 50 toward and away from roll 52 and is biased by springs 80 engaged between transverse member 48 of frame 40 and transverse member 64 of frame 42 around studs 82 on the transverse members. Engagement of shafts 74 in L-shaped slots 78, specifically the portions of the slots extending parallel with the direction of movement of carrier 54 with respect to frame 40, is effective to retain frame 40, carrier 54, roll 50 and springs 80 together as a unitary assembly which is mounted on the rear housing section adjacent second panel 30 thereof.

Side members 66 of frame 42 extend rearwardly in the closed position of the camera housing sections outside of said members 46 of frame 40 and include L-shaped' slots 84 opening rearwardly in alignment with L-shaped slots 78 and having end portions overlying the end por-,

4 tions of slots 78 in the closed position of the camera housing sections. L-shaped slots 84 and side members 66 comprise components of a latching mechanism for releasably retaining the housing sections in closed position and including a shaft 86 extending from the outside of the camera housing, engaged for rotation in a hole 88 in base 44 of frame 40 and having mounted on its inner end a cam 90 engaged for rotation in an elongated hole 92 in base 56 of carrier 54. A manually engageable lever 94 is attached to the outer end of shaft 86 for rotating the cam to move carrier 54 relative to frame 40 and roll 52 against the bias of springs 80. In this manner, shafts 74 of roll 50 may be moved toward and away from roll 52 within the confines of the end portions of L-shaped slots 78 of frame 40. In the open or inoperative position of the camera, shaft 86 and cam 90 are rotated so that roll 50 and carrier 54 are displaced against the bias of springs toward transverse member 48 of frame 40. In this position of roll 50, shafts 74 are aligned with the open ends of L-shaped slots 84 in side members 66 of frame 42 on the forward housing section and become engaged in L-shaped slots 84 when the rear housing section is pivoted with respect to the forward housing section into closed position. Shaft 86 and cam are then rotated to allow carrier 54 and roll 50 to move under the bias of springs 80 toward roll 52 so that shafts 74 become engaged within the dead end portions of L-shaped slots 84, effectively retaining the camera housing sections in closed position.

Means are provided for properly locating frame 40 and its associated carrier 54 and roll 50 mounted thereon with respect to frame 42 and roll 52 and for absorbing the forces exerted on frames 40 and 42 by way of rolls 50 and 52, so that the forces exerted by and upon the rolls are not transferred to the camera housing. These means include a pair of studs 96 projecting outwardly from side members 46 for engagement in U-shaped slots 98 in side members 66 of frame 42 when the housing sections are in closed position. A coil of second sheet 38 is loaded into the camera housing between side members 66 of frame 42 and retained in place by a retaining member 100 mounted for movement with respect to the forward housing section and a guide member 102 mounted on transverse member 64 of frame 42, and cooperating with the retaining member in the closed position of the camera housing sections to define an opening adjacent the bite of the rolls through which sheet 38 is movable into the bite of the rolls. Image-recording sheet 36 is loaded into a chamber provided in the opposite end of the camera housing and is threaded across the rear of the camera housing adjacent the inside of panel 28, forwardly of frame 40 and carrier 54 between the latter and retaining member 100 and around roll 50 into superposition with sheet 38 within the bite of the rolls. The film assemblage, of which sheets 36 and 38 are components, also includes a plurality of rupturable containers (not shown) mounted on sheet 38 and a leader secured to and joining the leading ends of the image-recording and second sheets and adapted to be threaded between the pressure-applying rolls when the camera is loaded.

Rear wall 20 of forward housing section 12 and panel 30 of rear housing section 14 include juxtaposed portions defining an opening aligned with the bite of rolls 50 and 52 through which the sandwich comprising sheets 36 and 38 is withdrawn directly from between the pressure-applying rolls. In accordance with the invention, the forward and rear camera housing sections are provided with means for preventing the admission of light through this opening into the interior of the camera housing and, in the form shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, these means comprise a rearwardly projecting lip 104 on panel 30 located at the end of the panel and extending from side to side thereof and having a length slightly in excess of the width of the sheets; and a second lip 106 extending rearwardly adjacent lip 104 from rear wall 20 of the forward housing section.

Lips 104 and 106 include, respectively, end members 108 and 110 which cooperate with the lips and one another to define a narrow passage 112 extending outwardly from the camera housing through which sheets 36 and 38 can be withdrawn. Passage 112, defined by lips 104 and 106 and endmembers 108 and 110, is only slightly wider than the maximum thickness of the materials required to be withdrawn from the camera and is inclined and oriented so that light passing through passage 112 impinges upon and is blocked by roll 52. Sheets 36 and 38 help to prevent the admission of light through passage 112 and, being opaque to actinic light, help to prevent reflection of the light from roll 52 to other parts of the interior of the camera at which it is possible to expose imagerecording sheet 36. As an added precaution against exposure of the image-recording sheet to light admitted through passage 112, a cover member 114 is provided mounted on end members 108 for pivotal movement between a closed position, shown in FIG. 2, in which the cover member extends across and closes passage 112, and an open position, shown in FIGURE 1, to one side of the passage to permit withdrawal movement of sheet materials through the passage.

An area of image-recording sheet 36, following exposure, is moved into superposition with an area of second sheet 38 between rolls 50 and 52 through passage 112 and from the camera. During this movement, a processin g liquid contained in a rupturable container mounted on sheet 38 is distributed between the exposed area of the image-recording sheet and the superposed area of the second sheet, and an unexposed area of the image-recording sheet is moved into position for exposure. Accordingly, the camera includes means for arresting the movement of the sheets when the exposed and processed area of the image-recording sheet has been advanced through passage 112 from the camera and the next succeeding unexposed area of the image-recording sheet is in position for exposure. This arresting or indexing means comprises a sheet-engaging member in the form of a disc 116 having a pair of radial projections 118 mounted coaxially with roll 52 on one of shafts 70 at the end of medial portion 68 of the roll. Disc 116 is rotatable with respect to roll 52 and is biased into frictional engagement with the end of medial portion 68 by a coil spring 120 engaged around shaft 70 between disc 116 and side member 66 of frame 42. A cup 122, having an outer diameter approximately equal to the diameter of medial portion 68, is provided around spring 120 to help prevent the admission of light into the camera housing past the end of the medial portion of roll 52. The medial portion of roll 50 is provided near one end thereof with a peripheral groove 124 for accommodating radial projections 118 to allow for rotation of both rolls and disc 116, and the latter is biased into frictional engagement with the end of the medial portion of roll 52.

Image-receiving sheet 38 is provided along one edge with a succession of openings 126, each opening being associated with an area of the image-receiving sheet adapted to be superposed with an exposed area of the image-recording sheet during processing thereof. Openings 126, in the image-receiving sheet, are aligned with disc 116 during movement of the sheets between the rolls and frictional coupling between roll 52 and the disc is such that one of projections 118 rides against the outer surface of sheet 38 until an opening 126 becomes aligned with the projection and the projection enters the opening and is engaged by the trailing edge of the opening, which continues to rotate the disc slightly causing the projection to punch a hole in the underlying portion of sheet 36 and enter groove 124 in roll 50. Movement of the sheets is arrested by arresting rotation of disc 116 with a projection 118 engaged in an opening 126 in sheet 38 and the hole punched in sheet 36. Movement of the sheets is recommenced by again permitting disc 116 to rotate as the sheets are withdrawn between the rolls,

whereupon disc 116 again rotates (in a clockwise direction viewing FIG. 2), due to frictional coupling with roll 52, until a projection 118 comes to bear against sheet 38 and movement of the sheets is continued with the projection bearing against sheet 38 until an opening 126 becomes aligned with the projection, the projection enters the opening and is carried into the bite of the rolls, punching a hole in sheet 36 to the position shown in FIG. 2, in which movement of the sheets is arrested by arresting rotation of disc 116.

In order to permit portions of the sheets located between lips 104 and 106 to be grasped manually for withdrawing the sheets from the camera through passage 112, the lips are formed with generally aligned indentations. These include an indentation 128 in lip 104 and an indentation 130 in lip 106 defined by a reentrant section 132 of lip 106 providing a recess 134. Following withdrawal of a portion of the sandwich comprising an exposed area of the image-recording sheet from the camera through passage 112, movement of the sandwich is arrested and the portion of the sandwich projecting beyond the edges of lips 104 and 106 is severed from the remainder of the sandwich within passage 112 along a transverse line corresponding to the edges of the lips. For this purpose, the camera is provided with a cutter bar 136 pivotally mounted at one end (furthest from the indentations) betweenthe lips and extending within passage 112. Cutter bar 136 includes a sharpened and substantially linear edge portion 138 extending across indentations 128 and 130 substantially in alignment with the edge of lip 104. Cutter bar 136 is mounted on a support 140 in the form of a pressed metal member having a base section 142 secured to transverse member 64, a support section 144 shaped to conform generally to end wall 18 and rear wall 20, and a cutting section 146 extending rearwardly within passage 112 closely adjacent lip 106 and terminating in a bent edge portion 148 located opposite the rear edge of lip 104 and extending across the outer end of passage 112 toward lip 104. Edge portion 148 is sharpened and provides means against which the sandwich is drawn to sever the sandwich. Support section 144, cutting section 146 and edge portion 148 are provided with an indentation 150 corresponding to indentations 128 and 130 in the lips. Cutter bar 136 is pivotally mounted on cutting section 146 in face-to-face relation with the cutting section with the rearmost edge of the cutter bar underlying edge portion 148, which provides a stop against which the cutter bar is biased. Edge portion 138 of the cutter bar projects rearwardly through the indentation 150 and the sharpened edge of edge portion 138 forms a continuation of the sharpened edge of edge portion 148 so as to present a single continuous sharpened member extending from end to end of passage 112 and at least equal in length to the width of the sandwich.

Means are provided for retaining the cutter bar in the cutting position, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, as the sandwich is drawn against the cutter bar and edge portion of support 140 to sever the sandwich and, in the form shown, these means comprise a recess 152 in the side of cutter bar 136 facing cutting section 146 of support 140 and a short detent or stud 154 on cutting section 146 which extends into recess 152 and restrains the cutter bar against movement. Stud 154 is relatively short, has a rearwardly inclined cam surface, and can be disengaged from recess 152 in the cutter bar by displacing the cutter bar slightly toward lip 104. This is made possible by the fact that the cutter bar may be bent slightly and the pivot for the cutter bar has some play in it; however, during severance of the sandwich, the cutter bar is, of course, pressed toward cutting section 146 so that stud 154 is effectively retained in recess 152. In order to manually grasp a portion of the sandwich located within passage 112 between indentations 128 and 130, cutter bar 136 must be displaced forwardly or inwardly, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. To facilitate this displacement by pivoting of the cutter bar, a manually engageable button 156 is provided mounted on a lug 158 formed from a portion of the cutter bar. Button 156 is mounted within recess 134 and includes an inclined rear surface which, when engaged by the thumb or one of the fingers of the operator, acts as a cam surface displacing the cutter bar both inwardly and toward lip 104 so that stud 154 is disengaged from recess 152 permitting the inward or forward motion of the button and cutter bar.

In accordance with the invention the cutter bar, which must be depressed inwardly in order to grasp the sandwich to withdraw it from the camera, also functions to control the operation of the indexing mechanism which arrests the movement of the sandwich. Movement of the sandwich is arrested by arresting rotation of disc 116 and this is accomplished by a resilient stop member in the form of a generally J-shaped spring 160 having a relatively short arm 162 at which the spring is secured to a bracket 164 formed near the end of the cutter bar at which the cutter bar is pivotally mounted; a short connecting arm 166 extending radially with respect to the pivotal axis of the cutter bar and an elongated engagement arm 168 extending in a direction generally parallel with the cutter bar and the pivotal axis of disc 116 toward the disc and including an end portion intersecting the circular path of movement of radial projections 118. Portions of transverse member 64 of second frame 42 are formed into a pair of U-shaped support members 170 located adjacent opposite sides of the circular path of movement of projections 118 and each having a pair of arms 172 disposed on opposite sides of the free end portion of engagement arm 168. Arms 172 are spaced apart from one another to permit limited movement of the end portion of engagement arm 168 in a direction generally tangent to the direction of rotation of radial projections 118, and lengthwise movement of the end portion of engagement arm 168 in a direction generally parallel with the axis of rotation of disc 116 into and from the path of rotation of radial projections 118. In FIG. 3, the cutter bar is shown in its operative or cutting position and arm 168 of spring 160 is shown in position to engage one of projections 118 and arrest the rotation of disc 116 in engagement with the sheets, and arms 172 function to support engagement arm 168 against motion when engaged with a projection 118. Arms 162 and 168 of spring 160 are biased apart from one another in opposite directions so that spring 160 coacts with one of support members 170 to bias the cutter bar into the operative position, shown in FIG. 3.

To resume advancement of the sandwich, button 156 and cut-ter bar 136, to which it is attached, are depressed forwardly to permit the operator to grasp the sandwich, and this rotation of the cutter bar in a counterclockwise direction to the position shown in FIG. 4, pivots connecting arm 166, displacing engagement arm 168 lengthwise (to the right), to the position shown in FIG. 4, in which the free end of engagement arm 168 is withdrawn from the path of movement of projections 118. Then, as the sandwich is withdrawn, cutter bar 136 and but-ton 156 are permitted to return under the bias of spring 160 to their original position, returning engagement arm 168 into its arresting position in the path of projections 118. During the initial portion of movement of the saidwich, disc 116 is, of course, rotated, and this rotation is sufficient to advance the projection 118, engaged by engagement arm 168, to the extent that when the engagement arm is returned to its arresting position, it will be located behind the projection in position to engage the other projection as disc 116 is rotated further. As an added safety factor to protect against the possibility that the cutter bar may be depressed and released prior to movement of the sheets so that arm 168 may have returned to its original position in front of projection 118, arm 168 of spring 160 is so formed and positioned with respect to arms 172 as to be deformed slightly when the of arm 168 is displaced relative to the projections in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the projections. By virtue of this construction and arrangement, when the cutter bar is released the free end of arm 168 returns to its original position along a path which will intersect the radial projection with which it was previously engaged and come to rest against the radial projection with the cutter bar remaining partially depressed. In this position, arm 168 is unable to prevent rotation of the disc and moves into position to prevent rotation of the disc only after the projection 118 has been advanced from engagement with the arm.

Another embodiment of the cutter bar and indexing mechanism is shown in FIG. 6. In this embodiment, the cutter bar, designated 174, takes the form of an L-shaped crank having a cutting arm 176 and an engagement arm 178, pivotally mounted at the junction of the two arms adjacent the same side of the indentation 128 as disc 116 on cutting section 146 of support 140. Cutting arm 176 extends across indentations 128, and 150 and cooperates with edge portion 148 to form a continuous straight cutting edge; and arm 178 extends forwardly into the path of rotation of radial projections 118. Cutter bar 174 is biased in a clockwise direction (FIG. 6) into the arresting position, shown in solid lines in FIG. 6, in which end of arm 178 is in position to engage a projection 118 and arrest rotation of disc 116. In the operation of this embodiment of the camera, the opera-tor graps the sandwich forwardly of cutting arm 176 between the latter and the rear wall of the camera and in withdrawing the sandwich, necessarily engages arm 17 6, pivoting the cutter bar in a counterclockwise direction and thereby displacing the end portion of arm 178 out of the path of movement of projections 118 on disc 116. Cutter bar 174 is biased by a spring (not shown) into its arresting position so that upon release, it returns to its arresting position in preparation for engaging the other projection 118 and arresting movement of the sandwich.

Reference is now made to FIG. 7 of the drawings wherein there is illustrated another embodiment of the sheet severing and arresting mechanism including a cutter bar, designated 180, in the form of a generally L-shaped crank having an elongated cutting arm 182 similar in most respects to cutter bar 136, described hereinbefore, and a relatively short engagement arm 184. Cutter bar is pivotally mounted in the same manner and in the same position as cutter bar 136 with arm 184, in the arresting position of the cutter bar, extending into the circular path of rotation of projections 118 on disc 116. In this embodiment, disc 116 is provided at the end of roll 52 opposite to the end at which it is mounted in the embodiments previously described. A spring (not shown) is provided for biasing cutter bar 180 into arresting position, a stud 186 and recess 188 are provided similar to, respectively, stud 154 and recess 152 (previously described) for retaining the cutter bar in its arresting or cutting position during sheet severing, and a button 190, similar to button 156, is mounted on the cutter bar to enable depression of the cutter :bar to the release position, shown in broken lines in FIG. 7, in which the end of engagement arm 184 is displaced from the path of rotation of projections 118 on disc 116. The embodiments of FIGS. 6 and 7 are similar in that the cutter bar itself includes a portion which engages and arrests the rotation of radial projections 118, but differ from one another in that the cutter bar of FIG. 6 is pivoted outwardly to the rear in order to release the projections for rotation and the cutter bar of FIG. 7 is depressed inwardly and forwardly to release disc 116 for rotation and in this embodiment, the disc is located to the opposite end of roll 52.

The invention described herein provides a camera structure and operating mechanism which close an opening in the camera against the admission of light during withdrawl of sheet materials through the opening, provide means for severing successive portions of the sheet materials as they are withdrawn from the openings, provide an indexing mechanism for arresting movement of sheet materials at predetermined positions, and automatically release the sheet material for movement when the sheets are grasped and withdrawn from the camera. This release operation is termed automatic because the construction of the camera and operating mechanism is such that the sheets cannot be grasped and withdrawn without releasing the sheets for movement, that is, releasing the sheet engagement disc for rotation; and in this way tearing of the sheets is prevented because the operator does not have to remember to release the arresting mechanism.

Since certain changes may be made in the above apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In photographic apparatus including a housing having an opening through which successive sections of a sheet are withdrawn during processing and indexing means for engaging and arresting movement of said sheet through said apparatus, means for sealing said opening against the admission of light, severing said succession sections along transverse lines and controlling advancement of said sheet through said apparatus, the last-mentioned means comprising, in combination:

a pair of lips extending from said housing adjacent opposite sides of said opening for excluding light therefrom and at least one of said lips having an outer longitudinal edge at least equal in length to the width of said sheet;

said lips being formed with adjacent indentations extending inwardly to permit manual engagement of portions of said sheet located between said lips; and

a cutting member having an edge section mounted be tween said lips for manual movement from a cutting position to permit manual engagement of said sheet between said lips, said cutting member in said cutting position being located with said edge section extending adjacent said edge of said one lip across said indentation to provide an edge against which said sheet can be drawn for severing said sheet along a transverse line;

said cutting member being coupled with said indexing means for releasing said sheet for movement in response to displacement of said cutting member from said cutting position thereof.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said edges of said lips and said indentations are in substantial alignment.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said edge section of said cutting member is located, in said cutting position thereof, substantially in alignment with said edge of said one lip.

4. The photographic apparatus of claim 1 wherein said housing includes two sections movable relative to one another into and from an operative position to permit loading of said sheet material into said apparatus, said sections include portions cooperating in said operative position thereof to define said opening and each of said sections includes a portion comprising one of said lips, said lips in said operative position of said housing sections cooperate to provide a narrow passage through which said sheet is movable.

5. The photographic apparatus of claim 4 in which said indexing means and said cutting member are mounted on one of said housing sections.

6. The photographic apparatus of claim 1 in which said cutting member is movable inwardly from said cutting position to permit manual engagement of said portions of said sheet and to release said sheet for movement.

'7'. The photographic apparatus of claim 6 in which said cutting member in said cutting position thereof completely closes said indentation in said one lip.

8. The photographic apparatus as defined in claim 6 including latch means for engaging and releasably retaining said cutting member in said cutting position during severance of said sheet.

9. The photographic apparatus of claim 1 in which said indexing means include engagement means for engaging successive portions of said sheet, mounted for movement in engagement with said sheet and said cutting member includes a section disposed, in said cutting position thereof, in the path of movement of a component of said engagement means to arrest movement of said en gagement means and said sheet.

10. The photographic apparatus of claim 1 in which said cutting member is movable outwardly from said cutting position in the direction of withdrawal movement of said sheet to release said sheet for movement.

11. The photographic apparatus of claim 10 in which said indexing means include engagement means for engaging successive portions of said sheet, mounted for movement in engagement with said sheet and said cutting member comprises a section disposed, in said cutting position of said cutting member, in the path of movement of a component of said engagement means for arresting movement thereof and said sheet.

12. The photographic apparatus of claim 1 in which said lips cooperate to provide a narrow passage through which said sheet is movable substantially in a plane and containing said cutting member, and said cutting member is mounted for pivotal movement about an axis generally perpendicular to said plane of movement of said sheet through said passage between said lips.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,087,399 4/1963 Fairbank -31 JOHN M. HORAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS INCLUDING A HOUSING HAVING AN OPENING THROUGH WHICH SUCCESSIVE SECTIONS OF A SHEET ARE WITHDRAWN DURING PROCESSING AND INDEXING MEANS FOR ENGAGING AND ARRESTING MOVEMENT OF SAID SHEET THROUGH SAID APPARATUS, MEANS FOR SEALING SAID OPENING AGAINST THE ADMISSION OF LIGHT, SEVERING SAID SUCCESSION SECTIONS ALONG TRANSVERSE LINES, AND CONTROLLING ADVANCEMENT OF SAID SHEET THROUGH SAID APPARATUS, THE LAST-MENTIONED MEANS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: A PAIR OF LIPS EXTENDING FROM SAID HOUSING ADJACENT OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID OPENING FOR EXCLUDING LIGHT THEREFROM AND AT LEAST ONE OF SAID LIPS HAVING AN OUTER LONGITUDINAL EDGE AT LEAST EQUAL IN LENGTH TO THE WIDTH OF SAID SHEET; SAID LIPS BEING FORMED WITH ADJACENT INDENTATIONS EXTENDING INWARDLY TO PERMIT MANUAL ENGAGEMENT OF PORTIONS OF SAID SHEET LOCATED BETWEEN SAID LIPS; AND A CUTTING MEMBER HAVING AN EDGE SECTION MOUNTED BETWEEN SAID LIPS FOR MANUAL MOVEMENT FROM A CUTTING POSITION TO PERMIT MANUAL ENGAGEMENT OF SAID SHEET BETWEEN SAID LIPS, SAID CUTTING MEMBER IN SAID CUTTING POSITION BEING LOCATED WITH SAID EDGE SECTION EXTENDING ADJACENT SAID EDGE OF SAID ONE LIP ACROSS SAID INDENTATION TO PROVIDE AN EDGE AGAINST WHICH SAID SHEET CAN BE DRAWN FOR SEVERING SAID SHEET ALONG A TRANSVERSE LINE; SAID CUTTING MEMBER BEING COUPLED WITH SAID INDEXING MEANS FOR RELEASING SAID SHEET FOR MOVEMENT IN RESPONSE TO DISPLACEMENT OF SAID CUTTING MEMBER FROM SAID CUTTING POSITION THEREOF. 